Flower Guide

Flower obsession is nothing to worry about. If you’re caught in a vicious (well, not so vicious, more fun) circle of buying fresh, cut flowers for your home, over and over again, we can’t blame you. They add life and positive vibes to every room, they even inspire and motivate us. Hence, our urge to always have a fresh pair of blooms on our desk is totally justified, if you ask us. The only thing that rains on your parade can be that they give up on life after pretty much only two days.

If you want to avoid having to shop for flowers every other day, learn which cut flowers tend to last the longest in your home.

Chrysanthemums

Did you know that these babies can last up two three weeks when cut? Talk about endurance!

Traditional Lilies

They might not have a long lifespan as Chrysanthemums, they are still a good choice because they can last up to two weeks.

Garden Roses

The iconic rose can last up to two weeks with proper care.

Orchids

Orchids are the soldier disguised in an elegant and delicate uniform, but they are known to last for quite some time. Up to three weeks!

Sunflowers

Bring some sunlight into your room with these attention-grabbers, and keep it there for one to two weeks!

Ranunculus

This baby can also last for a 7 days, which doesn’t make it the champion of durability, but it still beats two days.

Gladiolus

When was the last time these enchanting blooms took the stage in your home? Probably not in a long time, but hey, give them some credit. When taken care of properly they tend to last for one or even two weeks.

Carnations

Carnations are the IT flower, the outcast, the outsider that always gets mistaken for solely funeral flowers. However, carnations can last two to even three weeks if taken care of properly, and their beautiful pastel shades are perfect for home decor.

Dahlias

And finally, we have to give it up for Dahlias, which can last up to a week in your beautiful home.

Bear in mind, that it’s all about finding a florist you trust, so that the flowers are truly fresh and cut on the same day or the day before. If you get flowers that are three days old, obviously they won’t last as long as you want them too. Activate your inner florist and nurturing instincts and take care of your flowers so that they remain perky and bright for as long as possible. It’s a double effort.

If you’re not Shakespeare or John Keats when it comes to writing love poems, and you can’t write anything deeper than the good old Roses are red verse, then we have a solution that’s doesn’t require a pen or paper. Or a romantic mind for that matter. All you need is a florist who knows what he’s doing, and flowers that are going to make for the most beautiful and touching love poem your significant other has ever read or heard.

Which flowers send a romantic message, and what kind of a message it is? Stick around to find out.

1. Purple Roses

The red rose is known as the lover’s rose, but this time, we want to make a romantic twist and suggest a purple rose, that can be coupled with lilac flowers. This arrangement is given to the one that, similar to fairy tales, you’re enamored with.

2. Forget-Me-Not

Although the name tells a lot on its own, this flower can hit two birds with one stone. It can be sent as a symbol of a long love full of memories, as well as a symbol of true love. When you want to ensure someone that she’s ‘the one’, this is the bloom to go with.

3. White Daisies

Valentine’s Day is the perfect day for daisies, as this gentle, white-petaled bloom represents loyal love. If you want to express love and loyalty with one flower or one bouquet of flowers, daises will do the trick.

4. White Dittany

Never heard of this mysterious bloom? Well, you’re about to remember it forever. This white flower not only sends a love message, it’s known as an aphrodisiac. Gentlemen usually gift it to ladies when they want to express their desire and passion, but it can also work wonders for couples.

5. Ranunculus

Want to let a lady know that you’re absolutely ravished by every single aspect of her? Gift her a lush bouquet of Ranunculus flowers this Valentine’s Day, and we guarantee you that she’ll get the message.

6. Tulips

Classic, colourful and affordable, tulips are the ideal choice this February, if you want to deliver the message of a perfect love.

7. Orchids

Orchids are a sophisticated and delicate bloom, but beware! Orchids have a romantic meaning that you might not know about. They’re the ideal gift for Valentine’s Day, because they symbolise exotic seduction. Therefore, if you want to send out a stronger and bolder love message, go for orchids.

8. Red Carnations

No, they are not funeral flowers, and we’d like to forget about their bad reputation once and for all. Red carnations show someone who deep your love is, and it’s perfect for couples who are over the beginnings and are, in the words of Adele, rolling in the deep.

The power of flowers is undeniable. We use them to make someone’s day better, to show our love and appreciation, to bring warmth into our home, in our kitchen and our favourite meals and drinks and in beauty as well. If you’re a beauty junkie and want to update your beauty routine, we suggest you utilise the flower power and blooms that are going to make a huge difference in your beauty routine.

Below you will find flowers that are going to sizzle up your beauty routine.

Marigold

This vibrant flowers is packed with carotenoids and works wonders as a skin toner. You can mix in these beautiful petals with honey or milk, and make yourself an all-natural facial mask. Marigold is also known as a remedy for treating skin infections, acne and rashes. Some use it as an anti-aging cream, because it enhances the production of collagen, and helps with those pesky wrinkles and lines.

Jasmine

A bloom with the most tantalising fragrance is also used in the beauty world to achieve that coveted glow. If you’re stressed out because of dry skin, jasmine will work wonders for you, unlike over-the-counter products that can sometimes make dry skin even worse. Just like marigold Jasmine can be a powerful assistant in your battle with wrinkles, especially if you combine it with coconut oil.

Roses

Ah, roses. There’s nothing roses can’t do, right? Rose petals can be used with honey as a natural lip treatment, if you want that hydrated, rosy look on your lips, but it also works well as a natural skin toner. Rose petals contain powerful natural oils that work great as moisturiser, since it can lock in the moisture our skin needs to stay fresh, hydrated and bright. Depending on what you combine it with, it can be used as a face mask, a moisturiser, a toner, an exfoliator and so much more.

Lavender

If you’re a fan of making your skin brighter and lighter, lavender is going to be the bloom for you. You’ll find numerous DIYs online for Lavender water, which everyone raves about because it’s great for skin that’s prone to breakouts and inflammation. Don’t jump for supermarket products, and try this natural elixir to soothe and brighten your skin.

Hibiscus

When we say that Hibiscus is often referred to as the ‘Botox plant’, I’m sure you’ll be grabbing your wallet and hitting the store for some fresh hibiscus. This beautiful flower has the power to boost the elasticity of your skin, giving you that young look without any needles. It’s also rich in antioxidants, works wonders for your complexion and gives you one mean boost of moisture.

The world of blooms is known for its role in the beauty world, and if you still haven’t tried using flowers in your beauty, it’s about time you try.

A Christmas Cactus is the most talked about plant during the festive season. It’s unusual, attractive and a beautiful decor piece or a gift idea for Christmas. Red, yellow, pink, white – these are just some colours the beautiful petals come in, so it’s also a great plant to keep around your home, as it doesn’t have to be associated just with Christmas. If you want to nourish this plant all year long, so you always have it in your home, here’s how you should do it.

Spring Care

When spring arrives, it’s to fertilize after flowering. Maintain watering, but only water when the soil is completely dry.

Summer Care

Feel free to give your Christmas Cactus a taste of the outdoors. Bring it outside, but don’t place it in a sunny spot. Direct sunlight can actually damage the leaves, and burn them, if the heat is too intense. Instead place it in a location where there’s shade, or at least semi-shade.

Just because it’s a cactus, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean moisture. This is the most common misconception, that leads to your Christmas Cactus wilting. In fact, Christmas Cactus is different and requires a lot of moisture, especially during the summer.

Autumn Care

When the leaves start leaving the branches of trees, it’s time to take your Christmas cactus back inside. Make sure to place it in a room that’s going to provide light, but not additional evening light. When buds start to appear once again, you can bring it into your living room or any room that you like. This will usually be around September.

As far as watering is concerned, it’s time to change things up. While you were supposed to water it continuously during the summer, tone it down a bit in autumn, and water it simply so it doesn’t start wilting.

Winter Care

When you slowly start to approach winter, keep nourishing it and watering it, and make sure that the air doesn’t get too dry in the room where your Christmas Cactus is. It needs humidity to a certain point, and it needs hydration to keep budding and producing gorgeous blooms. At this time, it’s best to place it in an area of your home where it’s going to get about six hours of indirect sunlight.

Are you as equally obsessed with this gorgeous plant as we are? Then we suggest gifting it to someone, or if you are lucky to receive one, start nourishing it so that you will have it all year long.

With the festive season on our doorstep, you’re going to need a lot of flowers for all the dinners, parties, and events that you have to attend. A birthday here and there, and you’ll be desperate for new, fresh ideas and beautiful flowers that are going to help you celebrate this season properly. A Better Florist has a few suggestions for you, on how to bring the spirit of Christmas into your flowers, and stand out no matter where you go, with flowers who’ll tell the story of Christmas.

Gentle Yet Festive

Try something other than poinsettias this season, and bring Christmas spirit into the room with a bouquet of gentle white dahlias, spray roses, black sabiosas and lush greenery, and you’ll hit the jackpot. You’re going to have a beautiful, festive bouquet on you, but at the same time, it won’t be traditional and boring.

2. Roses and Pine cones

If you still want to go with the classic rose bouquet, try asking your florist to mix things up. Go for roses that have a deep, wine red colour, and add a few pine cones into the bouquet, in order to validate that it is the season to be jolly. It’s beautiful, romantic, powerful yet has a little bit of traditional between the beautiful petals, that are going to draw attention right to your bouquet.

3. Winter Wonderland

Want to go for something different from the traditional red and green? Go for white elegance, and a lush bouquet of white tulips, spray roses and ranunculus. It’s a beautiful table centrepiece, but also a sophisticated flower arrangement to gift to your family.

4. White Statement

Love poinsettias and want them in your arrangement? There’s no reason to avoid them, just because you can see a red poinsettia bouquet on every corner. Try switching it up with a combination of white roses and white poinsettias. This bouquet will definitely make a powerful impression on anyone you gift it to.

5. Luxurious Combo

Want to combine the most beautiful blooms into one fantastic and festive arrangement? Ask your florist to combine ranunculus, roses and hanging amaranthus, and you’ll have in your hands the most powerful statement of all times.

Christmas flowers are all about keeping the tradition, cherishing it through statement Christmas flowers, but putting an authentic spin on traditional flower bouquets.

Shakespeare’s Juliet, the queen of romance, famously said that “a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet”. It might well smell sweet, but will it mean the same thing?

For centuries, roses have been understood to be the most enduring symbol of love. But roses also speak of friendship, of forgiveness, of sympathy and of gratitude. The colour of roses in a bouquet can change its entire meaning.

Our comprehensive guide on the colour of roses and their meaning will help you in selecting the right roses for your bouquet to ensure the perfect gift, every time.

So stop leaving your bouquet to chance. Find the right rose colour for your next gift and find a new and meaningful way to tell someone how you really feel.

We can all agree that a gift of roses is the perfect way to say “I love you,” “thank you”, or perhaps even just “I’m thinking of you”.

But did you know there’s much more to giving or receiving roses than that? Depending on the number of roses that you send, your gift can mean different things. Whether it’s a single rose to proclaim your love or a perfect dozen to say be mine, sending the correct number of roses will help you express your feelings and might just turn your relationship around.

Our helpful infographic will help you decode the messages of love hidden in your bouquet.

So next time you want to let that special someone know how you feel, you may not need words – find the bouquet with the right number of roses, and let it speak for you!

No birthday is complete without something sweet, some candles and a precious wish. However surely the practice of lighting a cake on fire, or better yet stuffing ourselves with cake had to start somewhere…

Celebrating can be a bittersweet occasion. For some it can be a joyful event to celebrate the gift of life. For others, it can be an unwelcome reminder of becoming a year older. Either way, each birthday hopefully finds you wiser with the occasion made sweeter by a tasty birthday cake and a magical wish for the year.

In Asia, traditional food served during birthdays varies. In China, birthday pastry called shòu bāo (壽包, simp. 寿包) or shòu táo bāo (壽桃包, simp. 寿桃包) is a bun made of wheat flour served individually instead of one big cake. Koreans serve seaweed soup, while Southeast Asians traditionally serve Birthday noodles to represent long life. But overall, the birthday cake still holds its position of power.

Birthday cake trends keep getting wilder and wilder- from Unicorn cakes to naked cakes- but their origin remains fairly simplistic. So before you gobble up another cake, let’s trace the origin of this worldwide practice of commemorating your birthday by blowing out candles on a birthday cake.

While there is currently no clear evidence pointing to the origin of birthday celebrations, rabbi and scholar Benjamin Edidin Scolnic points out in his book that the earliest known mention of a birthday in history is in Genesis 40:20 when Joseph, the interpreter of dreams, came upon a pharaoh who threw a feast for his birthday. Other scholars doubted whether the celebration mentioned is the same as the current incarnation of birthdays, although Dr. James Hoffmeier explained that it could be a reference to the pharaoh’s coronation instead of his actual birthday. According to him, Egyptians believed that pharaohs became gods when they are crowned, thus their coronation marks their “birth” as a god.

Celebration and Cultic Birthday Cakes in Roman Culture

The birthday cake, meanwhile, may have originated in ancient Rome. Dr. Sarah Bond points out that the Romans liked celebrating dies natalis or birth day not just for people, but temples and cities as well. Though the practice of celebrating people’s birthdays were often ritualistic and cultic in nature where religion and celebration intersect as attendees clad in white robes would sacrifice a spiritual deity for the protection of the new born, burn incense—and eat ritual cakes, of course.

Birthday Candles: Origin and Symbolism

Incense transitioned to candles when Greeks celebrated birthdays. Author Linda Rannells Lewis attribute the placing of candles on cakes to the ancient Greeks. Lewis wrote that every lunar month, the Greeks would offer moon-shaped honey cakes with lit candles to Artemis, moon goddess of the hunt.

Much like the symbolic significance of burning incense, the smoke created from blowing out candles likely stems from the fact that Egyptians believed that the smoke from incense creates a means of communicating your intentions to the heavens. Similarly, blowing out your birthday candles send your wishes to the ears of the higher powers where they may come into fruition.

Victorians then borrowed this idea of birthday cakes and candles from the Germans in the 1800s, with a few lavish improvements naturally. The wealthy and extravagant Victorians began serving two-layer cakes arrived when the freestanding cook stove was invented in the 1840s.

Finally, the current incarnation of blowing out candles on birthdays likewise appears in Great Britain’s 1883 issue of The Folk-lore Journal which documented various superstitions of the Swiss gathered by researchers in 1881. Same as the Germans, their birthday cake come with lit candles, one for each year of the celebrant’s life. The celebrant would then “solemnly blow out the candles one after another.”

So the next time you blow the candles on yet another delicious birthday cake, you’ll know how this ubiquitous ritual started and the underlying meanings behind it.

Why On-Demand Delivery Is Changing Flower Delivery One Bouquet at a Time

It’s a known fact that on-demand delivery for a large variety of products and services is becoming more and more popular — and flower delivery is one area where this business model has considerably changed and improved over time. CarPal sheds light on what the-demand delivery sector means for the flower industry and what it has to offer when coupled with tech.

If we look at the traditional floral industry model, we’ll quickly realize the process involves so many steps from farmers growing the flowers to sending the flowers to distributors, who sell them to wholesalers, who then finally sell them to florists.

While the flower industry has always thrived, there have also been numerous challenges throughout the journey; but in today’s digital era, there is definitely a renewed interest in flowers as online florists have made buying flowers easier and more accessible.

Today, the process of ordering flowers is much simpler, allowing you to easily browse online and selecting from a large variety of well-curated blooms.

One avenue that helps to speed up the process is on-demand delivery, which aims to eliminate the long, cumbersome international supply chain that transports fresh blooms to consumers in a cool environment. Instead, on-demand delivery pledges to focus on sourcing fresh flowers that don’t spend weeks in a cold-storage warehouse.

Because of the long supply chain process and without a sustainable solution, the consumer will probably get a product with a short shelf life at an inflated price.

But what on-demand delivery seeks to do is to considerably cut the farm-to-vase time, so that flowers can last longer in the customer’s home. On top of focusing on ethically-sourced flowers, many online flower delivery businesses even pledge one-hour delivery of fresh bouquets.

Leverage flower services with technology

There is a growing recognition that on-demand delivery can be key to operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and cost reduction. And today, modern technologies such as delivery management softwares have opened new doors, driving the traditional flower delivery ecosystem to new heights.

Communication is key

In the flower delivery business, coordination is the fine line between success and failure. This means focusing on visibility and communication between customers, your drivers and third parties that are essential for last-mile delivery.

As flowers are time-sensitive, knowing when the product leaves your hands and when it gets in the possession of your customer is a crucial step in the delivery process.

What’s beneficial is that with the use of a smart device, both companies and consumers can make use of tools that enable delivery providers to update customers on their order status in real time.

For instance, customers can be alerted when their order has been shipped, and the delivery provider can provide information regarding expected delivery date and time and whether a customer signature is required. Also, the customers will also be notified when a package is available for pickup at a pickup location.

Keep customers satisfied

With the boom of online shopping, consumers’ expectations have also changed considerably. We want faster and better services, but what makes such service level feasible is ensuring to constantly manage and optimize deliveries on-the-go and automate the processes.

By making on-demand delivery a quintessential part of the business, online flower delivery companies can focus more on the product itself as well as accepting and preparing online orders. This will definitely be a more effective way to operate an online business without the hassle of arranging deliveries.

It is believed that the tradition of giving flowers dates back to the prehistoric times. Since then, it has been a powerful means of communicating human emotions. However, commemorating various special occasions with flowers can go further, expressing specific emotions with different kinds of flowers. What meanings do flowers convey? What can you say with a bouquet? Flipit Singapore has prepared an overview of 6 popular flowers and their meanings, most of which are also included in A Better Florist bouquets.

Lily

Lilies have been popular since 16th century BC, especially in the Ancient Greece. They symbolize purity and beauty, but different colours have different meanings. While a white lily is a symbol of virginity and modesty, yellow stands for gaiety and orange for passion. Furthermore, the Calla lily is considered a royal flower and the Easter lily is associated with Virgin Mary.

Belonging to the oldest families of flowers, protea is believed to be named after the son of the Greek god Poseidon, Proteus. Protea symbolizes transformation, as well as courage and resourcefulness. It also stands for diversity, as there are more than 1,400 varieties of this flower.

One of the most popular flowers worldwide symbolizes love in various forms. Red rose signifies desire, but also admiration, devotion, and respect. White rose is a symbol of innocence and purity, yellow stands for friendship and does not convey romantic emotions. Pink colour of rose shows joy and gratitude of the giver. A mixed rose bouquet can symbolize a variety of emotions, which the recipient has to decipher.

When giving a tulip, especially a red one, you are essentially declaring your love. Yellow tulips stand for cheerfulness, purple represent royalty and white symbolize forgiveness. Tulip flowers are also very elegant, so a tulip bouquet also conveys grace.

This small white flower with yellow centre represents innocence and purity. Daisies are also another means of expressing/declaring loyal love and they can symbolize a secret, too.Moreover, it is a symbol of new beginnings, that is why daisies are often a part of bouquets for new mothers. Gerbera daisies, on the other hand, stand for cheerfulness.